MORE THAN 100 campaigners opposing the building of a mountainside wind farm in Blaenau Gwent say the fight to stop it is “very much still on” following an appeal by the developer.

The controversial application to build four 328-foot high wind turbines on Mynydd James between Cwmtillery and Blaina, was thrown out by Blaenau Gwent councillors in January this year.

But now after an appeal by developer Pennant Wind Ventures has been accepted by the council as valid, an inquiry will be held next Spring meaning the development could still get the go-ahead.

This has led to campaign group Save Coity and Mynydd James (SCAM), which currently has more than 100 members, launching a battle to try and stop the development.

So far the group have been delivering leaflets, distributing posters and have also set up a website and Facebook page expressing their worries.

These include concerns over how close the wind farm would be to people’s homes, the stability of the site, the visual impact, the potential negative impact on tourism, noise pollution and the threat to wildlife.

The group are also starting a fundraising bid to raise £8000 to employ environmental expert Geoff Sinclair from Pembrokeshire who will represent them at the inquiry.

SCAM member, Lesley Wedgbury, of Hawthorn Glade, Blaina, said: “The fight to stop this is definitely very much still on. There is no time to be complacent. I am not afraid in saying I don’t want this in my back yard and I don’t think it should be in anyone else’s back yard either.

“If built there the farm would be just 0.6km from the nearest home. There are plenty of other options to place it in but this is just too near to people’s homes.”

The windfarm, which would generate 5.2 mega watts, would provide £2million in local construction contracts and £500,000 for community trust funds during its lifetime.

A SCAM public meeting will now be held at Blaina Community Centre on November 10 when it will be discussed as to how the group will raise the £8000.

For more information on the campaign visit www.saveourvalley.co.uk